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The gastrobar, La Manera, in Valencia, Spain, was designed by the creative consultancy, Masquespacio, with the explicit purpose being to create a refined and yet easy destination for patrons at all times of the day, from a mid-morning brunch, to a late night cocktail spot and everything in between. To accomplish this, the designers chose to translate the gastrobar owner's business concept - serving high quality, naturally produced foods and beverages by well-known baristas - into design terms.

Having created a symphony of unpretentiousness that one feels has been orchestrated as elegantly and as genuinely as possible, a warm and enveloping atmosphere is apparent as soon as one enters the front door to take in the predominate, soothing color palette of earthy brown and washed gold tones, punctuated by touches of dusky blues, pale pinks and the natural green of potted plants. It is a symphony of unpretentiousness that one feels has been orchestrated as elegantly and as genuinely as possible.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

The structure's original brick walls have been exposed throughout. This creates a background that is the perfect foil for the tangible, rusty finish of the metal paneled sections which surround the upper half of the walls around windows, as well as the bar front.

This rusty look has also been carried out in the custom-designed furniture - the shelves, cabinets and plant pots - and is juxtaposed perfectly by the gleaming gold finish of the thick, exposed pipe running along the ceiling, above the bar and windows. Meanwhile, the bar's backsplash which is constructed out of teal colored, polished tiles creates the ideal counterpoint for the rough cement finish on the bottom half of the walls surrounding the windows.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

The mix and matched array of barstools and chairs - which are both renovated vintage models, as well as new models from Singular Market - also exhibit this rough, rusty finish. The same goes for the sculptural, metal installation on the wall above the brown leather upholstered, buffet seating and most of the various, custom-designed lighting fixtures throughout the space - although, for variety's sake, some of the latter are in a gleaming copper finish!

The Mediterranean-world inspired, lattice work on that same wall is a strong focal point of the design; not only because it adds another textural element to the space, but also thanks to the plants that spill out of the latticed flower boxes which are built into it and which bring the easygoing, natural and uncomplicated design directive of La Manera to task in the clearest way possible.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

Photo by Luis Beltran.

The Rust and Polish of La Manera Gastrobar in Valencia by Masquespacio